Our Oscar entries are trash: Priyadarshan

You���ve said that India���s Oscar entries are trash. True?
Yes. There���s a board that decides which films should go to the Oscars, without seeing films from all over the country. They see whatever comes to hand, according to their convenience. The National Awards jury is the only one that watches films from all over India. It���s the sensibility of 13 people from different parts of India ��� better than the same board every year, deciding according to favouritism.
Any one Oscar entry that you felt was valid?
None.When you see the film going from here, and the film that finally wins, there���s a huge difference. Then you think, why weren���t the other movies sent? Satyajit Ray and Adoor Gopalakrishnan���s films, which have won Padma Bhushans... Adoor is a seven-time National Award winner and his film has never gone to the Oscars. Films like Eklavya go for the Oscars... With due respect, those films are not made for the Oscars. They���re made for a commercial purpose.
Why did Kanchivaram take so long to make?
I didn���t find a producer. They all wanted me to make Hera Pheri. I make these films for glamour. Hera Pheri was for people to enjoy and for me and the producer to make money. I made Kanchivaram for recognition. Some films are realistic, some are entertainers.
Can���t realistic films be entertaining?
No. The mass audience comes to see entertainers, but to watch realistic cinema, education is important. I can make films like Kanchivaram in Kerala, but I can���t do that for the North audience, because the literacy level is lower.
You���ve said that it���s jealousy that makes people stereotype you as a comedy filmmaker.
Critics are frustrated people who could never become anything. They typecast me, not fellow filmmakers. The only reason I made Kanchivaram is to make a point, that I can also do this, not just comedies ��� just to break the mould. And I���m pretty happy that I did!